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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "urgent assistance" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • john_abby111@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: John Abby <john_abby1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <john_abby111@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2007 02:38:08 +0200
Subject: Hello From John



Urgent AssistancePlease reply to my personal email is(john_abby111@yahoo.co.uk)My name is John Abby from Republic Of Benin,i am contacting you in regards to my step mother wish, she has been diagnosed for cancer for about 3 years ago, she wrote to donate our funds to charities organization.
She stated that she was touched to donate from what we have inherited from my Father to the Charities and deposit part in my name to further my Education rather than allow my relatives to use the hard earned funds for pleasure.
Because of my age and experiences i cannot handle this funds, so my step mother decided to seek for assistance from foreign country were i can further my education and ask me to contact you for assistance, I am 22 years old and i need your responses urgently so that i can explain and send you the documentations covering the funds.The amount is $5,500,000.00 (Five million five hundred thousand dollars) and we will offer you 15% for your assistance, understand and effort to RECEIVE the funds from the firm in Europe.
I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the task is accomplished, as I don't want anything that will jeopardize this transaction.Best RegardsJohn Abby
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam